Land Mass Ahead

Ahoy Shipmates! We may be sinking but there is a land mass on the horizon. The first order of business for small business owners is to secure your lifeboats. Don't let the BG (Big Government) near them. If you hear "bailout" say let us try the oars first. If we paddle hard enough we can reach the landfall before we sink.


Hard times are upon us. Let us be clear ab0out that. Many small businesses will fail. In fact, not to be a prophisier of doom, but I believe the capitalist system of business enterprise is under attack. The "Socialist" schemes proposed by the new incoming administration seem to point toward a regulated disaster for small independent businesses. Not only will new regulations become stifling, but new taxes to support the bailouts, giveaways, and redistribution of wealth will ultimately be enough to kill any potential for a profitable enterprise.

This is not new; rather, it is the continuation of the trend toward "welfare statism," begun long ago under the "New Deal" of Franklin Roosevelt. The ideals of our Founding Fathers, for individual responsibility, honor, integrity, and fair dealing among the citizens, have been abandoned by greedy politicians and unscrupulous power brokers.

The voters of this country have been misled by the empty promises of pie in the sky and a chicken in every pot, all free. The concept of "rugged individualism" has been replaced by envy of those with more money, or the inner drive to overcome liabilities and win the game of life. By hard work and understanding, the majority of American citizens can still prevail against the tide. Our educators have failed to instill the desire to know history and to appreciate the way to success. As a consequence, our young people are too often ignorant of what made this country great. Small business is the backbone of the nation, and its only hope for survival.

The Auto Industry

Now we are supposed to decide the merits of a huge bailout for the auto industry. Several aspects apply to this question. The first thing to recognize is the fact that there has been dirty work afoot for many years. Collusion between the big Auto Workers Union and the big bosses in the industry has affected the quality and the cost of the manufactured products.

At the time of the last contract agreements all three of the top American auto makers had the option to ignore the union demands for more money and benefits. It was already evident that trouble was just ahead. For years, while the unions were sucking the industry dry, with the acquiescence of both the union and industry bosses, the employees were riding high with no thought for the future. They were making big bucks with huge benefits and turning out an infereor product.

After the Chrysler bail out, there was more attention to quality, across the board, but it was too late. A drive through any big three employee parking lot revealed more Toyotos and Hondas than the brands being turned out by the companies paying the bills. And that was true for the last twenty five years. There was no loyalty for the product by employees, no management effort to change the system, and no interest by the unions to lookout for the future welfare of the workers. All the unions wanted was for the dues payments to keep rolling in.

Now, in 2008, auto quality has gone up, but employee loyalty has not. Management has seen the futility of paying CEOs enormous salaries and bonuses for inadequate performance, and the unions are crying foul that their cash bucket will be empty if bankruptcy is declared by the companies.

Now is the time for colmmon sense. Now is the time for reorganization in the automobile industry. And now is the time to stop the unions from ruining the businesses that provide the jobs that support the economy of this country.

Point of View

The Big Meltdown

I recently toured the famous "Biltmore" house in Ashville, North Carolina. It is the largest house in America, built by the very wealthy Vanderbilt family in the last decade of the 19th century. It is called a "house" but is a castle by every defnition. Today, it is a private enterprise tourist attraction, and well worth the cost to visit for those interested in our history.

I was struck by the enormity of the mansion, but also by the symbols of massive wealth, and the opulence attached to the lives of the fabulously rich. I felt no envy of those people, nor did I resent their status in America. The Vanderbilts were generous with their wealth. The staff of 35 or more servants and helpmates were well cared for and well compensated for their loyalty and dedication to their duties. The contrast with some of the "rich and famous" of our day is remarkable.

The Vanderbilt fortune came honestly and with a meteoric rise in the western expansion for shipping and railroads. It was a time of American inovation, and enterprise. The Vanderbilts were part of what made America great. When George Vanderbilt opened the house, on Christmas Eve, 1895, it was with great pride in the grandeur and architecture of the house.

American opulence in the year 2008 is more a sign of greed, fraud, dishonesty, and deception. Now, the so called "rich and famous" includes corporate pillagers, self serving politicians, Hollywood elites, and those with no conscience in their conquests. The great economic meltdown we are currently experiencing has been brought on by those catagories of citizens. America will recover from this setback, but it will take time. It will also take the resolve of our people to recover the values that made us what we became with hard work and dedication. We must not accept "Socialism" as a way to recover. We must return to a concept of personal responsibility and self support. Self indulgence and self pity will not cut it. Be inspired by those who earned their ticket to ride.

An Old Concept

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